mi 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


THE 


BIRDS    OF    THE    AIR. 


BY    ROBERT    RAMBLE. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

CRISSY  &  MARKLEY,  No.  4  MINOR  STREET. 

1849. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1840,  by 

J.  CRISSY, 
in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  district  court  of  the  eastern  district 

of  Pennsylvania. 

(6) 


CONTENTS. 


The  Birds  of  the  Air  .......................  Page  9 

The  Ostrich  ..................................  13 

The  Cassowary   ...............................  16 

The  Dodo  ....................................  21 

The  Condor  ..................................  25 

The  Vulture  ..................................  26 

The  Golden  Eagle  .............................  30 

The  Osprey,  or  Fishing  Eagle    ...................  37 

The  Secretary  Falcon  ..........................  41 

The  Kite  .....................................  44 

The  Moor-Buzzard    ............................  48 

The  Sparrowhawk  .............................  53 

The  Owl    ....................................  57 

The  Peacock    .................................  61 

The  Pintado,  or  Guinea  Fowl  ....................  65 

The  Bustard  ..................................  66 

The  Wood-Grouse,  or  Cock  of  the  Wood   .....  .....  70 

The  Black  Grouse  .............................  74 

JVJ348986 


viii  CONTENTS. 

The  Partridge Page  79 

The  Wood  Pigeon   83 

The  Carrier  Pigeon 84 

Great  Crowned  Pigeon    , 89 

The  Parrot 93 

The  Macaw   96 

The  Hoopoe 100 

The  Bird  of  Paradise    105 

The  Toucan 109 

The  Great  Auk   112 

The  Swan    116 

Guinea,  or  Swan  Goose    120 

The  Crowned  Crane    124 

The  Bittern 128 

The  Heron 132 

The  Adjutant 137 

The  Spoonbill    138 

The  Ruff  .  .143 


THE 

BIRDS    OF    THE   AIR, 


IN  a  little  book  which  I  put  forth,  not  long 
ago,  called  "  VISIT  TO  THE  MENAGERIE,"  I  have 
given  an  account  of  the  most  interesting  of 
the  Quadrupeds.  Some  of  my  little  friends, 
who  have  read  that  book,  desire  that  it  should 
be  accompanied  by  another,  in  which  the  birds 
of  the  air  are  described  and  figured ;  and  it  is 
in  compliance  with  their  wishes  that  I  now 
commence  this  little  Book  of  Birds.  I  will  give 
in  it  an  account  of  all  the  most  remarkable 
birds,  with  well-drawn  pictures,  showing  their 
form ;  and  I  will  tell  such  stories  and  anecdotes 
about  them  as  may  occur  to  me  as  I  go  on, 

(9) 


10  THE    BIRDS    OF   THE   AIR. 

According  to  the  Linnean  system,  which, 
however,  I  shall  not  rigidly  follow  in  my  ar- 
rangement, the  Land  Birds  are  divided  into 
four  classes ;  the  Rapacious  Birds  (accipitres) ; 
the  Pies  (pics))  ;  the  Passerine  Birds  (passeres) ; 
and  the  Gallinaceous  Birds  (galling) :  the  Wa- 
ter Birds  consist  of  two  classes,  the  Waders 
(grallse)  ;  and  the  Swimmers  (anseres).  Of  the 
Rapacious  Birds,  the  bills  are  hooked,  and 
there  is  an  angular  projection  on  the  upper 
mandible ;  of  the  Pies,  they  are  sharp-edged, 
compressed  on  the  sides,  and  convex  on  the 
upper  surface ;  of  the  Passerine  Birds,  conical 
and  sharp  pointed ;  of  the  Gallinaceous  Birds, 
the  upper  mandible  is  considerably  arched ; 
the  Waders  have  a  roundish  bill,  and  a  fleshy 
tongue ;  and  of  the  Swimmers,  the  bills  are 
broad  at  the  top,  and  covered  with  a  mem- 
branaceous  skin. 


THE    OSTRICH. 

As  in  some  measure  connecting  the  class  of 
quadrupeds  with  that  of  the  feathered  race,  the 
Ostrich  is,  perhaps,  the  bird  which  is  entitled 
to  claim  our  attention  first.  In  external  ap- 
pearance it  bears  some  resemblance  to  the 
camel;  its  internal  conformation  allies  it  to 
quadrupeds ;  it  grazes  with  animals  ;  and  its 
plumage  gives  the  idea  rather  of  hair  than  of 
feathers. 

The  Ostrich  is  generally  seven  —  some- 
times nine  feet  high,  from  the  top  of  the  head 
to  the  ground,  —  but  from  the  back  it  is  only 
four;  so  that  the  head  and  neck  are  above 
three  feet  long.  From  the  top  of  the  head  to 
the  rump,  when  the  neck  is  stretched  out  in  a 
right  line,  the  length  is  six  feet,  and  that  of  the 
tail  about  a  foot  more.  One  of  the  wings,  when 
stretched  out,  is  about  three  feet ;  and  at  the 
end  of  each  wing  there  is  a  kind  of  spur, 

(13) 


14  THE    OSTRICH. 

almost  like  the  quill  of  the  porcupine.  The 
pltimage  is  generally  black  and  white ;  the  up- 
per part  of  the  head  and  neck  are  covered  with 
fine  white  hair,  and  in  some  places  there  are 
small  tufts  of  it,  which  grow  from  a  single  shaft, 
about  the  thickness  of  a  pin.  The  neck  of  this 
animal,  which  is  of  a  livid  flesh  colour,  seems 
to  be  more  slender  in  proportion  than  that  of 
other  birds,  from  its  not  being  furnished  with 
feathers  :  the  head  and  bill  somewhat  resemble 
those  of  a  duck ;  and  the  external  form  of  the 
eye  is  like  that  of  a  man's,  the  upper  eyelids 
being  adorned  with  lashes  which  are  longer 
than  those  on  the  lid  below.  The  thighs  are 
large,  fleshy,  and  wrinkled  in  the  manner  of  a 
net;  the  legs  are  covered  before  with  large 
scales ;  the  foot  is  cloven,  and  has  two  toes  of 
unequal  sizes. 

These  animals  seem  formed  to  live  among 
the  sandy  and  arid  deserts  of  the  torrid  zone ; 
and  in  those  regions  they  are  seen  in  large 
flocks,  which,  to  the  distant  spectator,  appear 
like  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  have  often  • 


THE    OSTRICH. 


15 


alarmed  a  whole  caravan.  There  is  no  spot, 
however  sterile,  but  what  is  capable  of  supply- 
jng  them  with  provision,  as  they  are  of  all  crea- 
tures the  most  voracious,  and  possess  surprising 
powers  of  digestion.  Hence  they  will  devour 
leather,  hair,  stones,  or  any  thing  that  is  given 
to  them  \  and  those  substances  which  the  coats 
of  the  stomach  cannot  soften,  are  excluded  in 
the  form  in  which  they  were  swallowed.  In 
Southern  Africa  they  are  exceedingly  injurious 
to  the  farmers ;  as  they  will  destroy  a  field  of 
wheat  so  effectually  as  not  to  leave  a  single  ear 
behind. 


THE    CASSOWARY. 

THE  Cassowary  of  New  South  Wales  is  thus 
described  by  Latham:  —  It  is  blackish;  the 
crown  flat ;  its  body  bristly ;  its  head  and  neck 
planted  with  quills,  and  its  legs  serrated  behind. 
The  head  and  beak  are  much  more  like 
those  of  the  Ostrich ;  the  tongue  has  a  broad 
root,  serrated  sides,  and  pointed  top.  This  bird 
is  exceedingly  swift  of  foot,  and  strikes  severely 
with  its  heel  when  pursued.  It  frequently  mea- 
sures nearly  seven  feet  when  standing  erect. 
Its  flesh  is  said  to  be  similar  in  flavour  to  beef. 
The  hen  lays  a  number  of  eggs,  which  are 
rather  less  than  those  of  the  Ostrich ;  they  are 
nearly  of  an  oval  shape,  and  of  a  bottle-green 
colour.  The  principal  material  of  the  nest  is 
dried  fern:  it  is  usually  constructed  on  the 

ground,  on  the  borders  of  a  swamp. 

f 

(16) 


(17) 


THE   DODO. 

THE  wings  of  the  Dodo  are  somewhat  similar 
to  those  of  the  Ostrich  and  Cassowary :  but,  in 
its  general  appearance,  it  differs  from  these, 
and,  indeed,  all  other  known  birds.  We  are, 
perhaps,  incorrect  in  speaking  of  the  Dodo  in 
the  present  tense ;  for,  in  all  probability,  it  is 
now  extinct.  There  is  not  even  a  perfect  spe- 
cimen to  be  found ,-  still,  no  doubts  are  enter- 
tained of  its  having  once  been  in  existence. 
The  only  authentic  original  figure  of  the  Dodo, 
is  a  painting  in  the  British  Museum,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  taken  from  the  living  bird, 
brought  into  Holland  by  the  Dutch,  soon  after 
the  discovery  of  the  East  Indies,  by  the  way 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Beneath  the  paint 
ing  is  a  Dodo's  leg,  in  a  fine  state  of  preserva- 
tion, which  is  very  thick,  in  proportion  to  its 
length,  "  and  satisfies  the  eye  of  every  orni- 
thologist, that  it  cannot  belong  to  any  other 
known  bird."  The  Dodo  must  have  been  as 

(21) 


22  THE   DODO. 

incapable  of  running,  with  any  degree  of  speed, 
as  flying :  it  may  be  pronounced  the  most  in- 
elegant, awkward,  and  clumsy-looking  creature 
of  the  whole  feathered  tribes.  In  size,  it  ex- 
ceeds the  turkey.  The  neck  is  thick  and  pursy ; 
the  body  heavy,  lumpish,  and  nearly  cubical ; 
the  tail  disproportioned,  and  not  in  the  usual 
place.  The  plumage  is  represented  as  being  a 
variegation  of  black  and  white,  with  a  slight 
mixture  of  yellow;  the  immense  mandibles  open 
far  back  in  the  head,  behind  the  eyes ;  the  up- 
per one  is  black,  except  at  the  hook,  where 
there  is  a  red  spot ;  the  legs  and  feet  are  yel- 
low, and  the  nails  black ;  the  toes  are  four  in 
number,  and  one  of  them  points  backward. 
The  Dodo  was  formerly  found  in  the  Isle  of 
France  ;  but,  for  the  last  two  centuries,  not  a 
single  individual  of  the  race  has  been  met  with. 
The  Dutch  called  it  Walgh  Vogel,  or  the  dis- 
gusting bird ;  as  well  on  account  of  its  ugly 
figure  as  its  offensive  smell;  the  flesh,  how- 
ever, is  said  to  have  been  palatable  and  whole- 
some food. 


THE    CONDOR. 

THE  Condor  is  an  inhabitant  of  South  Amer- 
ica. It  belongs  to  the  vulture  tribe,  and  in  size 
considerably  exceeds  the  largest  eagle.  The 
wings,  when  expanded,  have  sometimes  been 
found  to  extend  to  eighteen  feet ;  but  from  ten 
to  thirteen  feet  seems  to  be  the  usual  measure. 
The  great  wing  feathers,  which  are  of  a  shining 
black,  are  two  feet  four  inches  long.  The 
strength  and  size  of  its  body,  bill,  and  talons, 
are  in  proportion,  and  its  courage  equals  its 
muscular  powers.  The  throat  is  naked  and  of 
a  red  hue.  A  short  down  of  a  brown  colour 
clothes  the  head,  and  its  eyes  are  surrounded 
with  a  circle  of  reddish  brown.  The  plumage 
on  the  breast,  neck,  and  wings,  is  of  a  light 
brown;  that  on  the  back  rather  darker,  and 
sometimes  of  a  jet  black.  The  legs,  which  are 
strong  and  large,  are  covered  with  black  scales, 
and  the  toes  are  armed  with  claws  of  the  same 
colour. 

(25) 


THE   VULTURE. 

OF  this  class  of  birds  the  principal  are  the 
Golden  or  Carrion  Vulture,  the  Aquiline  or 
Egyptian  Vulture,  the  Cape  Vulture,  and  the 
Brazilian  Vulture.  In  one  point  they  all  have 
a  perfect  resemblance ;  they  are  filthy,  indolent, 
and  rapacious,  and  the  smell  of  them  is  offen- 
sive. The  Golden  Vulture,  which,  if  we  except 
the  Condor,  seems  to  be  at  the  head  of  the 
tribe,  is  about  four  feet  and  a  half  long,  from 
the  end  of  the  beak  to  that  of  the  tail,  and  gene- 
rally weighs  about  four  or  five  pounds.  The 
head  and  neck  are  only  covered  with  a  few 
scattered  hairs,  and  the  latter  is  covered  with 
a  red  skin,  which  at  a  distance  gives  to  the 
creature  the  look  of  a  turkey ;  and  the  eyes 
are  more  prominent  than  those  of  the  eagle. 
The  whole  plumage  is  dusky,  mixed  with  pur- 
ple and  green ;  the  legs  are  of  a  dirty  flesh  co- 


THE   VULTURE.  29 

lour,  and  the  claws  are  black.  The  male  Aqui- 
line Vulture  is  entirely  white,  except  the  quill 
feathers,  which  are  black,  edged  with  hoary ; 
but  the  female  is  brown,  with  the  same  excep- 
tion of  the  quill  feathers.  The  Cape  Vulture 
bears  a  great  similarity  to  the  last  species,  but 
its  head  is  of  a  bright  blue  colour,  covered  with 
a  yellowish  down,  and  its  plumage  is  somewhat 
of  a  coffee  colour. 

The  Vulture  is  common  in  many  parts  of 
Europe ;  and  in  Egypt,  Arabia,  and  many  other 
kingdoms  of  Africa  and  Asia,  he  is  found  in 
great  abundance.  In  Egypt,  and  particularly 
in  Grand  Cairo,  there  are  great  flocks  of  them, 
which  render  a  most  important  service  to  the 
inhabitants,  by  devouring  all  the  filth  and  car- 
rion, which  might  otherwise  render  the  air  pes- 
tilential. The  ancient  Egyptians  were  so  sensi- 
ble of  the  utility  of  this  bird  that  they  made 
it  a  capital  crime  to  put  one  of  them  to  death. 


THE    GOLDEN   EAGLE. 

AMONG  birds,  the  Eagle  is  usually  considered 
to  hold  the  same  place  that  the  Lion  does 
among  beasts.  Buffon  has  drawn  between  them 
a  parallel  wrhich  displays  his  usual  eloquence. 
"  Magnanimity,"  says  he,  "  is  equally  conspi- 
cuous in  both ;  they  despise  the  small  animals, 
and  disregard  their  insults.  It  is  only  after  a 
series  of  provocations,  after  being  teased  with 
the  noisy  or  harsh  notes  of  the  raven  or  mag- 
pie, that  the  Eagle  determines  to  punish  their 
temerity  or  their  insolence  with  death.  Be- 
sides, both  disdain  the  possession  of  that  pro- 
perty which  is  not  the  fruit  of  their  own  indus- 
try; rejecting  with  contempt  the  prey  which 
is  not  procured  by  their  own  exertions.  Both 
are  remarkable  for  their  temperance.  This  spe- 
cies seldom  devours  the  whole  of  his  game,  but, 
like  the  lion,  leaves  the  fragments  and  offals  to 
other  animals.  Though  famished  for  want  of 

(30) 


THE    GOLDEN   EAGLE.  33 

prey,  he  disdains  to  feed  upon  carrion.  Like 
the  lion,  also,  he  is  solitary ;  the  inhabitant  of 
a  desert,  over  which  he  reigns  supreme,  ex- 
cluding all  the  other  birds  from  his  silent  do- 
main. It  is  perhaps  even  more  uncommon  to 
see  two  pairs  of  eagles  in  the  same  tract  of 
mountain,  than  two  families  of  lions  in  the 
same  part  of  the  forest.  They  separate  from 
each  other  at  such  wide  intervals,  as  to  afford 
ample  range  for  subsistence;  and  esteem  the 
value  and  extent  of  their  domain  to  consist  in 
the  abundance  of  prey  with  which  it  is  replen- 
ished. The  eyes  of  the  Eagle  have  the  glare 
of  those  of  the  lion,  and  are  nearly  of  the  same 
colour ;  the  claws  are  of  the  same  shape ;  the 
organs  of  sound  are  equally  powerful,  and  the 
cry  equally  terrible.  Destined,  both  of  them, 
for  war  and  plunder,  they  are  alike  bold,  fierce, 
and  untractable.  It  is  impossible  to  tame  them, 
unless  they  be  caught  in  their  infancy."  It  may 
be  allowed  that  this  parallel  holds  good  in  all 
its  points  but  one,  that  which  respects  the  voice 
of  the  Eagle,  which  is  a  piercing  treble,  pos- 
3 


34  THE   GOLDEN   EAGLE. 

sessed  of  no  grandeur,  while  that  of  the  lion  is 
a  deep  and  dreadful  bass. 

Of  all  his  tribe,  the  Golden  Eagle  is  the 
largest  and  most  majestic.  He  measures  three 
feet  in  length,  seven  feet  and  a  half  from  tip  to 
tip  of  the  wings,  and  weighs  fourteen  pounds. 
The  head  and  neck  are  clothed  with  narrow 
pointed  feathers,  of  a  deep  brown  colour,  bor- 
dered with  tawny :  the  whole  body  also  is  of  a 
dark  brown,  the  back  being  finely  clouded  with 
a  deeper  shade  of  the  same :  the  tail  is  brown, 
irregularly  barred  with  an  obscure  ash  colour. 
The  beak  is  of  a  deep  blue,  and  the  eye  of  a 
hazel  colour.  The  legs  are  yellow,  strong,  and 
feathered  to  the  very  feet;  and  the  toes  are 
armed  with  formidable  claws. 


THE  OSPREY,  OR  FISHING-EAGLE 

THIS  bird  is  nearly  as  large  as  the  Golden 
Eagle,  measuring  in  length  three  feet  and  a 
half,  but  its  expanded  wings  do  not  reach  above 
seven  feet.  Its  bill  is  large,  much  hooked,  and 
of  a  bluish  colour :  irides  in  some  light  hazel, 
in  others  yellow  :  a  row  of  strong  bristly  fea- 
thers hangs  down  from  its  under  bill  next  to  its 
throat,  whence  it  has  been  termed  the  Bearded 
Eagle :  the  top  of  the  head  and  back  part  of 
the  neck  are  dark  brown,  inclining  to  black : 
the  feathers  on  the  back  are  variegated  by  a 
lighter  brown,  with  dark  edges ;  the  scapulars 
are  pale  brown,  the  edges  nearly  white;  the 
breast  and  belly  whitish,  with  irregular  spots 
of  brown ;  the  tail  feathers  are  dark  brown,  the 
outer  edges  of  the  exterior  feathers  whitish; 
the  quill  feathers  and  thighs  are  dusky;  the 
legs  and  feet  yellow;  the  claws,  which  are 
large  and  black,  form  a  complete  semicircle. 

(37) 


38     THE    OSPREY,  OR   FISHING-EAGLE. 

It  is  found  in  various  parts  of  Europe  and 
America.  It  is,  however,  wide  dispersed,  and 
was  met  with  at  Botany  Island  by  Captain 
Cook.  It  lives  chiefly  on  fish ;  its  usual  haunts 
are  by  the  sea  shore;  it  also  frequents  the 
borders  of  large  lakes  or  rivers,  and  is  said  to 
see  so  distinctly  in  the  dark,  as  to  be  able  to 
pursue  and  catch  its  prey  during  the  night. 
The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground,  among  reeds, 
and  the  female  lays  three  or  four  white  eggs, 
which  are  rather  smaller  than  a  hen's.  Fre- 
quent contests  take  place  between  the  Bald 
Eagle  and  the  Osprey ;  the  former  endeavour- 
ing to  deprive  the  latter  of  the  prey  which  it 
has  caught. 


THE    SECRETARY    FALCON. 

THIS  curious  bird  resembles  the  common 
Falcon  in  its  head,  bill,  and  claws ;  but  its  legs 
are  so  long  that,  when  it  stands  upright,  it  is 
not  much  unlike  the  crane.  When  standing 
erect,  it  measures  about  three  feet  from  the  top 
of  the  head  to  the  ground.  It  is  a  native  of 
the  interior  of  Africa,  Asia,  and  the  Philippine 
Islands.  The  general  colour  of  the  plumage  is 
a  bluish  ash ;  the  tips  of  the  wings,  and  the 
thighs,  inclining  to  black.  On  the  back  of 
the  head  are  several  long  dark-coloured  fea- 
thers, hanging  down  behind,  and  capable  of 
being  erected  at  pleasure.  This  crest  induced 
the  Dutch  colonists  at  the  Cape  to  give  it  the 
name  of  the  Secretary ;  the  Hottentots,  how- 
ever, style  it  the  Serpent-eater,  from  the  avidity 
with  which  it  catches  and  devours  those  nox- 
ious reptiles.  The  manner  in  which  it  seizes 

(41) 


42  THE    SECRETARY    FALCON. 

them  displays  great  intelligence.  On  approach- 
ing them  it  carries  forward  the  point  of  one  of 
its  wings,  in  order  to  parry  their  venomous 
bites,  and  waits  till  it  finds  an  opportunity  of 
spurning  or  treading  on  its  adversary,  or  taking 
him  on  his  pinions  and  throwing  him  into  the 
air.  When  he  has  at  last  thus  wearied  him 
out,  he  kills  and  devours  him  at  his  leisure. 

M.  le  Vaillant  witnessed  one  of  these  com- 
bats. Finding  itself  inferior  in  strength,  the 
serpent  endeavoured  to  regain  his  hole,  but  the 
falcon,  by  a  single  leap,  got  before  him,  and  cut 
off  his  retreat.  On  whatever  side  the  reptile 
strove  to  escape,  the  enemy  still  faced  him. 
The  serpent  then  erected  himself  to  intimidate 
thd  bird,  and,  hissing  dreadfully,  displayed  his 
menacing  throat,  inflamed  eyes,  and  a  head 
swoln  with  rage  and  venom.  Sometimes  this 
produced  a  momentary  suspension  of  hostili- 
ties ;  but  the  bird  soon  returned  to  the  charge, 
and,  covering  her  body  with  one  of  her  wings 
as  a  buckler,  struck  her  enemy  with  the  bony 
protuberance  of  the  other.  The  serpent  at  last 


THE    SECRETARY    FALCON. 


43 


dropped,  and  the  bird  laid  open  his  skull  with 
one  stroke  of  her  beak. 

This  singular  bird  may  easily  be  tamed,  and 
it  becomes  very  domestic  and  familiar.  If  se- 
verely pinched  with  hunger,  it  will  then  devour 
ducklings  and  chickens ;  yet,  if  well  fed,  it  will 
live  with  the  poultry  on  amicable  terms,  and 
when  it  sees  any  of  them  quarreling,  will  run 
to  part  the  combatants.  Unlike  all  the  rest  of 
the  feathered  race,  these  birds  always  strike 
forward  with  their  legs  when  they  fight. 


THE    KITE. 

OP  the  falcon  tribe  the  Kite  is  the  best 
known,  and  the  most  ignoble.  He  may  be  dis- 
tinguished from  others  of  the  same  class,  by  his 
forked  tail,  and  the  slow  circular  eddies  which 
he  describes  in  the  air  previous  to  pouncing  on 
his  prey.  He  appears,  indeed,  to  rest  himself 
upon  the  air  without  making  the  smallest  effort 
in  flying.  As,  however,  almost  every  bird  of 
flight  is  able  to  elude  his  pursuit,  he  subsists 
only  on  accidental  carnage ;  and  may  be  con- 
sidered as  an  insidious  thief,  who,  on  finding  a 
small  bird  wounded,  or  a  young  chicken  strayed 
from  its  mother,  improves  the  moment  of  ca- 
lamity to  his  own  advantage.  Sometimes  in- 
deed his  hunger  urges  him  to  acts  of  despera- 
tion. One  has  been  seen  to  fly  round  and 
round,  for  a  while,  to  mark  a  clutch  of  chick- 
ens, and  then  suddenly  dart  upon  the  unresist- 
ing little  animal,  and  carry  it  off;  the  parent 

(44) 


THE   KITE. 


47 


hen  in  vain  crying  out,  and  the  boys  hooting 
and  casting  stones,  to  scare  it  from  its  plunder. 

This  bird  is  common  in  England,  where  it 
continues  the  whole  year.  It  is  found  in  va- 
rious parts  of  Europe,  in  very  northern  lati- 
tudes, whence  it  retires  towards  Egypt  before 
winter,  in  great  numbers. 

In  size  the  Kite  is  larger  than  the  common 
buzzard :  he  has  large  eyes,  yellow  legs  and 
feet,  and  black  talons.  The  head  and  back  are 
of  a  pale  ash  hue.  His  neck  is  reddish ;  and 
the  lesser  rows  of  the  wing  feathers  are  party- 
coloured,  black,  red,  and  white. 


THE    MOOR-BUZZARD. 

THIS  bird  is  about  twenty-one  inches  in 
tength,  with  a  black  bill,  and  yellow  eyes. 
The  whole  crown  of  the  head  is  of  a  yel- 
lowish white,  lightly  tinged  with  brown ;  the 
throat  is  of  a  light  rust  colour :  the  rest  of  the 
plumage  is  of  a  reddish  brown,  with  pale  edges ; 
the  greater  wing-coverts  are  tipped  with  white ; 
the  legs  are  yellow,  and  claws  black. 

Rabbits,  young  wild  ducks,  and  other  water- 
fowl, are  the  prey  of  this  bird :  it  will  likewise 
feed  on  fish,  frogs,  reptiles,  and  even  insects. 
Its  haunts  are  in  hedges  arid  bushes,  near  pools, 
marshes,  and  rivers  that  abound  with  fish.  It 
builds  its  nest  a  little  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  or  in  hillocks  covered  with  thick  herb- 
age. Though  smaller,  it  is  more  active  and 
bold  than  the  Common  Buzzard,  and  when  pur- 
sued, it  faces  its  antagonist,  and  makes  a 
vigorous  defence. 

(48) 


THE    SPARROWHAWK. 

THIS  bird  is  somewhat  larger  than  a  com- 
mon pigeon,  the  male  being  about  twelve  inches 
in  length,  and  the  female  fifteen.  It  has  a 
short  hooked  blue  bill,  slender  reddish  legs, 
and  rather  a  long  tail.  The  colour  of  the 
eye  is  a  bright  orange.  The  plumage  on 
the  wings  and  upper  parts  of  the  body  is 
brown,  spotted  with  a  yellowish  dun ;  the  lower 
parts  in  some  are  whitish,  in  others  of  a  russet 
colour. 

The  head  is  flat  at  the  top,  and  above  each 
eye  is  a  strong  and  bony  projection;  a  few 
scattered  spots  of  white  form  a  faint  line  run- 
ning backward  towards  the  neck :  the  top  of 
the  head  and  all  the  upper  parts  of  the  body 
are  of  a  dusky  browrn  colour ;  on  the  back  part 
of  the  head  there  is  a  faint  line  of  white ; 
the  greater  quill  feathers  and  the  tail  are 
dusky,  with  four  bars  of  a  darker  hue  on 

(53) 


54  THE   SPARROWHAWK. 

each;  the  inner  edges  of  all  the  quills  are 
marked  with  two  or  more  large  white  spots ; 
the  tips  of  the  tail  feathers  are  white ;  the 
breast,  belly,  and  under  coverts  of  the  wings 
and  thighs,  are  white,  beautifully  barred  with 
brown ;  the  throat  is  faintly  streaked  with 
brown ;  the  legs  and  feet  are  yellow ;  claws 
black. 

The  Sparrowhawk  is  very  numerous  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  world,  from  Russia  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  female  builds  in 
high  rocks,  lofty  ruins,  or  hollow  trees,  but  will 
sometimes  condescend  to  take  up  with  the  old 
nest  of  a  crow. 


THE    OWL. 

OWLS  may  be  divided  into  two  classes ;  viz. 
— those  with,  and  those  without  tufts  of  fea- 
thers growing  up  from  the  head,  like  ears,  or 
horns.  In  the  former  class,  the  Great  Horned 
Owl  is  most  conspicuous :  it  is  the  largest  of 
the  genus,  being  nearly  equal  in  size  to  an  ea- 
gle :  it  builds  in  rocks,  or  mountains,  and  feeds 
on  young  hares,  rabbits,  and  even  pheasants 
and  grouse. 

The  Long-eared  Owl  is  about  fourteen  inches 
in  length :  its  plumage  is  marked  with  various 
shades  of  brown,  yellow,  and  cream  colour; 
the  legs  and  feet  are  covered  with  feathers.  It 
inhabits  ruined  buildings  and  hollow  trees. 

The  Short-eared  Owl  is  nearly  of  the  same 
size  as  the  bird  we  have  just  noticed :  its  horns 
never  consist  of  more  than  three  feathers,  while 
those  of  the  Long-eared  Owl  are  composed  of 
six.  The  Short-eared  Owl  flies  by  day. 

The  White  Owl,  Barn  Owl,  or  Screech  Owl, 

(57) 


58  THE   OWL. 

and  the  Brown  Ivy  Owl,  are  very  common 
birds.  The  White  Owl  inhabits  barns,  out- 
houses, &c.  Its  food  generally  consists  of  mice. 
The  Brown  Owl  frequents  woods,  and  builds  in 
hollows  of  trees.  It  feeds  on  mice,  moles,  &c. 
Some  of  this  genus  are  remarkable  for  the 
smallness  of  their  size :  there  is  a  Siberian  spe- 
cies which  barely  exceeds  a  sparrow  in  bulk ; 
and  another,  the  Little  Owl,  which  is  not  much 
larger  than  the  thrush,  and  sees  better  by  day 
than  night :  it  preys  on  small  birds,  mice,  &c. 
The  greater  part  of  Owls  are  nocturnal  birds, 
although  some  species  prey  during  the  day- 
time ;  and  these,  it  has  been  observed,  bear  a 
stronger  resemblance  to  the  hawks  than  the 
rest  of  the  genus. 


Little  Owl. 


THE    PEACOCK. 

To  describe,  in  adequate  terms,  the  dazzling 
beauties  of  this  elegant  bird,  would  be  a  task 
of  no  small  difficulty.  Its  head  is  adorned  with 
a  tuft,  consisting  of  twenty-four  feathers,  whose 
slender  shafts  are  furnished  with  webs  only  at 
the  ends,  painted  with  the  most  exquisite  green, 
mixed  with  gold :  the  head,  throat,  neck,  and 
breast,  are  of  a  deep  blue,  glossed  with  green 
and  gold;  the  greater  coverts  and  bastard 
wings  are  reddish  brown,  as  are  also  the  quills, 
some  of  which  are  variegated  with  black  and 
green ;  the  under  part  of  the  body  is  black,  with 
a  greenish  hue :  but  the  distinguishing  charac- 
ter of  this  singular  bird  is  its  train,  which  rises 
just  above  the  tail,  and,  when  erected,  forms  a 
fan  of  the  most  resplendent  hues :  the  two  mid- 
dle feathers  are  sometimes  four  feet  and  a  half 
long,  the  others  gradually  diminishing  on  each 
side :  the  shafts,  white,  and  furnished,  from  their 
origin,  nearly  to  the  end,  with  parted  filaments 

(61) 


62  THE    PEACOCK. 

of  varying  colours,  ending  in  a  flat  vane,  which 
is  decorated  with  what  is  called  the  eye.  The 
real  tail  consists  of  short,  stiff,  brown  feathers, 
which  serve  as  a  support  to  the  train.  When 
pleased  or  delighted,  and  in  sight  of  his  fe- 
males, the  Peacock  erects  his  train,  and  dis- 
plays all  the  majesty  of  his  beauty;  all  his 
movements  are  full  of  dignity;  his  head  and 
neck  bend  nobly  back ;  his  pace  is  slow  and 
solemn,  and  he  frequently  turns  slowly  and 
gracefully  round,  as  if  to  catch  the  sunbeams 
in  every  direction,  and  produce  new  colours  of 
inconceivable  richness  and  beauty,  accompa- 
nied at  the  same  time  with  a  hollow  murmuring 
voice  expressive  of  desire.  The  cry  of  the 
Peacock,  at  other  times,  is  often  repeated  and 
very  disagreeable.  The  plumes  are  shed  every 
year,  and,  while  moulting  them,  the  bird,  as  if 
humiliated,  retires  from  view. 

The  Peahen  is  somewhat  less  than  the  male, 
and  though  furnished  both  with  a  train  and 
crest,  is  destitute  of  those  dazzling  beauties 
which  distinguish  her  consort. 


THE 

PINTADO,    OR    GUINEA    FOWL. 

THIS  bird  is  originally  a  native  of  Africa,  but 
has  been  long  naturalized  in  this  country,  and 
is  considered  as  a  delicacy.  It  is  about  the  size 
of  a  common  hen,  but,  being  supported  on 
longer  legs,  it  looks  much  larger.  Its  head  is 
covered  with  a  kind  of  helmet ;  the  back  is 
round ;  and  the  tail  turned  downward,  like  that 
of  a  partridge.  The  whole  plumage  is  black, 
or  dark  gray,  diversified  with  white  spots ;  and 
the  wattles,  proceeding  from  the  upper  chap, 
give  it  a  very  peculiar  aspect.  All  their  habits 
resemble  those  of  the  poultry  kind,  and  they 
agree  in  every  other  respect,  except  that  the 
sex  can  only  be  distinguished  by  the  colour  of 
the  wattles ;  those  of  the  male  being  of  a  blu- 
ish cast,  while  in  the  female  they  are  more  in- 
clining to  red.  The  voice  of  the  Guinea  Fowl 
is  extremely  harsh  and  discordant.  The  eggs 
are  smaller  than  those  of  the  domestic  hen,  but 
have  a  harder  shell. 

5  <<*> 


THE    BUSTARD. 

OF  the  Bustard  tribe  there  are  about  twelve 
species,  most  of  which  are  inhabitants  of  Eu- 
rope. They  have  bills  somewhat  convex,  long 
legs,  naked  above  the  knees,  and  only  three 
toes,  all  of  which  are  placed  forward.  The 
Great  Bustard  is  a  native  of  England,  and  is 
the  largest  of  the  land  fowls  of  that  country, 
the  male  sometimes  weighing  upwards  of  twen- 
ty-five pounds.  The  male  of  this  variety  differs 
in  one  remarkable  respect  from  the  female ; 
which  is,  in  being  furnished  with  a  pouch  in  the 
fore  part  of  the  neck,  capable  of  containing 
above  two  quarts  of  water.  This  water  the 
animal  can  eject  with  such  violence  as  not  un- 
frequently  to  baffle  the  attacks  of  birds  of  prey. 
The  Bustard  is  nearly  four  feet  in  length,  and 
nine  in  breadth.  Its  neck  is  a  foot  long,  and 
its  legs  eighteen  inches.  The  head  and  neck 
of  the  male  are  ash  coloured;  the  back  is 

(66) 


THE   BUSTARD. 


69 


barred  transversely  with  bright  rust  colour  and 
black  ;  the  belly  is  white,  and  the  tail,  which 
consists  of  twenty  feathers,  is  barred  with  red 
and  black.  The  female  is  little  more  than  half 
as  large  as  the  male,  and  her  colours  are  less 
bright.  The  top  of  her  head  is  of  a  deep 
orange,  and  the  remaining  part  is  brown.  She 
also  varies  from  the  male  in  not  having  a  tuft 
on  each  side  of  the  head. 


THE  WOOD-GROUSE,  OR  COCK 
OF  THE  WOOD. 

THIS  bird,  which  is  nearly  the  size  of  a  tur- 
key, often  weighs  twelve  or  fourteen  pounds ; 
but  the  female  is  considerably  smaller.  The 
head  and  neck  are  ash  coloured  and  crossed 
with  black  lines;  the  body  and  wings  of  a 
chestnut  brown ;  and  the  breast  is  of  a  black- 
ish glossy  green.  The  female  differs  very  much 
in  her  plumage. 

This  bird  is  chiefly  found  in  mountainous 
and  wooded  situations ;  though  in  summer  he 
occasionally  ventures  from  his  retreats,  to  make 
short  depredations  on  the  corn  fields.  While 
living  in  the  recesses  of  the  forest,  he  attaches 
himself  principally  to  the  oak  and  the  pine 
tree;  the  cones  of  the  latter  serving  him  for 
food,  and  the  branches  affording  him  a  habita- 
tion. He  also  feeds  upon  cranberries,  ants 

(70) 


THE   WOOD-GROUSE.  73 

eggs,  and  insects;  and  his  gizzard,  like  that 
of  domestic  fowls,  contains  a  quantity  of  gra- 
vel, which  is  supposed  to  assist  his  powers  of 
digestion. 

The  Wood-grouse  begins  early  to  feel  the 
genial  influence  of  spring;  and  its  courtship 
may  be  said  to  continue  till  the  trees  are  en- 
tirely clothed  with  foliage  and  the  forest  is  in 
full  verdure;  and  as  he  now  seems  entirely 
deaf  and  insensible  of  danger,  this  is  the  time 
that  sportsmen  generally  take  to  shoot  him. 
Upon  all  other  occasions  he  is  the  most  timid 
and  vigilant  of  birds. 


THE    BLACK   GROUSE. 

THE  Black  Grouse  is  about  one  foot  ten 
inches  in  length,  and  weighs  nearly  four  pounds. 
The  general  colour  of  the  plumage  is  a  rich 
black ;  above  each  eye  there  is  a  dash  of  scar- 
let, and  below  the  eye  a  spot  of  white ;  the 
neck  and  rump  are  of  a  glossy  blue ;  the  under 
tail  coverts  white ;  the  lesser  wing  coverts 
brown,  and  the  greater  ones  white ;  the  wing 
is  also  barred  with  white :  the  feathers  of  the 
tail,  when  spread  out,  form  a  very  singular 
curve  on  each  side.  The  toes  are  toothed  on 
the  edges ;  the  eyes  are  a  deep  blue,  and  the 
bill  black.  These  birds  are  common  in  cold 
countries ;  they  frequent  the  northern  parts  of 
Scotland,  and  feed  on  berries  during  the  win- 
ter, and,  in  summer,  on  corn.  They  do  not 
pair,  but  assemble  in  flocks.  The  hen  makes 
a  careless  nest  on  the  ground,  and  lays  from 
five  to  eight  yellowish  eggs  freckled  with  brown. 

(74) 


THE    PARTRIDGE. 

THIS  bird  is  about  thirteen  inches  in  length. 
The  general  colour  of  its  plumage  is  brown 
and  ash,  elegantly  mixed  with  black ;  each  fea- 
ther is  streaked  down  the  middle  with  buff  co- 
lour; the  sides  of  the  head  are  tawny;  the 
eyes  are  hazel,  and  under  each  eye  there  is  a 
small  saffron-coloured  spot;  between  the  eye 
and  the  ear  is  a  naked  skin  of  a  bright  scarlet, 
which  is  not  very  conspicuous  but  in  old  birds ; 
on  the  breast  is  a  crescent  of  a  deep  chestnut 
colour :  the  tail  is  short ;  the  legs  are  of  a 
greenish  white,  and  are  furnished  with  a  small 
knob  behind.  The  bill  is  of  a  light  brown. 
The  female  has  no  crescent  on  the  breast,  and 
her  colours  in  general  are  not  so  distinct  and 
bright  as  those  of  the  male. 

Partridges  are  found  principally  in  temperate 
climates ;  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  being 
unfavourable  to  them.  Yet  they  exist  in  Green- 

(79) 


80 


THE    PARTRIDGE. 


land,  where,  in  winter,  their  plumage  becomes 
white,  and  they  acquire  a  thick  and  warm 
down.  In  Sweden  they  burrow  under  the  snow 
to  shelter  themselves  from  the  cold.  They  are 
no  where  in  greater  plenty  than  in  England, 
where,  in  their  season,  they  contribute  to  the 
gratification  of  the  epicure,  their  flesh  being 
delicious. 


THE    WOOD    PIGEON. 

ALL  the  numerous  and  beautiful  varieties  of 
this  tribe  derive  their  origin  from  the  Stock- 
dove, or  Wood  Pigeon ;  which  is  of  a  deep 
bluish  ash  colour;  the  breast  dashed  with  a 
fine  changeable  green  and  purple;  the  wings 
marked  with  two  black  bars ;  the  back  white, 
and  the  tail  barred  near  the  end  with  black. 
Such  are  the  colours  of  the  Pigeon  in  its  na- 
tural state;  and  from  these  simple  tints  the 
effects  of  domestication  have  produced  a  va- 
riety that  words  cannot  describe,  nor  even 
fancy  suggest.  The  Stockdove  usually  builds 
in  holes  of  rocks,  or  in  excavated  trees.  Its 
murmuring  note,  at  morning  and  dusk,  is  highly 
pleasing. 

(83) 


THE    CARRIER    PIGEON. 

THE  Carrier  Pigeon  is  distinguished  from  all 
others,  by  a  broad  circle  of  naked  white  skin 
which  surrounds  the  eyes,  and  by  the  colour 
of  the  plumage,  which  is  of  a  dark  blue  in- 
clining to  black.  From  their  attachment  to 
their  native  place,  these  birds  are  employed  in 
several  countries  as  the  most  expeditious  car- 
riers of  letters ;  and  formerly  they  were  com- 
monly used  in  conveying  letters  from  place  to 
place  in  time  of  warr  and  in  case  of  sieges, 
when  all  other  means  of  communication  were 
intercepted,  or  cut  off  by  the  enemy.  These 
birds  have  been  known  to  fly  at  the  rate  of 
seventy-two  miles  in  the  space  of  two  hours 
and  a  half.  One  of  them  will  carry  a  letter 
from  Babylon  to  Aleppo  in  forty-eight  hours, 
though  the  journey  generally  occupies  a  man 
for  thirty  days. 

(84) 


GREAT    CROWNED    PIGEON. 

THERE  are  several  minor  varieties  of  Pi- 
geons, which  it  is  neither  necessary,  nor  suit- 
able to  our  limits,  to  notice.  We  cannot,  how- 
ever, close  our  sketch  of  this  beautiful  order, 
without  mentioning  the  most  magnificent  bird 
which  it  comprises, — the  Columba  coronata  of 
Linnseus,  or  Great  Crowned  Pigeon.  In  size  it 
is  nearly  equal  to  the  turkey :  the  greater  part 
of  its  plumage  is  of  a  fine  purple,  or  bluish  ash 
colour ;  the  middle  of  the  back,  and  the  coverts 
of  the  wings,  are  of  a  dark  reddish  brick  co- 
lour; these  together,  says  Edwards,  form  a 
kind  of  saddle  across  the  upper  part  of  the 
bird :  some  of  the  first  row  of  covert-feathers, 
above  the  quills,  are  white,  with  red  tips ;  the 
remainder  of  the  row  is  ash  coloured.  The 
eye  is  of  a  beautiful  red,  and  placed  in  the 
centre  of  a  broad  space  of  black,  which  passes 
backward  from  the  upper  mandible,  and  enJs 


90  GREAT   CROWNED   PIGEON. 

in  a  point  near  the  hinder  part  of  the  head. 
The  head  is  adorned  with  a  remarkably  hand- 
some crest  of  a  pale  blue,  or  ash  colour,  similar 
to  that  of  the  lightest  parts  of  the  Common 
Pigeon,  and  composed  of  a  number  of  fine  fea- 
thers, with  slender  shafts  and  fine  webs,  which 
are  usually  elevated.  The  bill  is  black ;  and 
the  end  of  the  upper  mandible  overhangs  the 
point  of  the  lower.  The  legs  and  feet  are  of 
a  whitish  colour,  spotted  with  red.  This  splen- 
did bird  is  a  native  of  the  East  India  Islands  : 
it  coos,  and  has  the  peculiar  actions  and  man- 
ners of  other  pigeons. 


THE    PARROT. 

THE  Parrot,  of  which  there  are  many  spe- 
cies, is  said  to  have  been  first  introduced  into 
Europe  by  Alexander  the  Great.  Of  foreign 
birds  it  is  the  one  with  which  we  are  best  ac- 
quainted, and  is  likewise  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful of  the  feathered  race,  its  plumage  being 
exceedingly  varied  and  of  the  most  vivid  hues. 
But  its  chief  attraction  is  to  be  found  in  its 
ability  to  utter  articulate  sounds,  a  gift  which 
it  possesses  in  far  greater  perfection  than  any 
other  bird.  Its  voice  also  is  more  like  a  man's 
than  any  other :  its  note  is  of  the  true  pitch, 
and  capable  of  a  variety  of  modulations.  For 
this  it  is  indebted  to  the  form  of  its  bill,  tongue, 
and  head.  In  addition  to  the  talent  of  speech, 
the  Parrot  is  endowed  with  a  strong  memory, 
and  writh  more  sagacity  than  is  the  lot  of  most 
other  birds. 

In  their  native  woods,  these  birds  live  to- 

(03) 


94  THE    PARROT. 

gether  in  flocks,  and  generally  breed  in  hollow 
trees,  where  they  make  a  round  hole  for  the 
accommodation  of  their  young;  but  do  not 
take  the  trouble  of  lining  it  within.  The  fe- 
male lays  two  or  three  eggs,  about  the  size 
of  those  of  a  pigeon,  and  marked  with  little 
specks.  The  natives  are  very  assiduous  in 
seeking  out  their  nests,  and  usually  take  them 
by  cutting  down  the  tree.  By  this  means,  in- 
deed, the  young  Parrots  are  liable  to  be  killed ; 
but  if  one  of  them  survive,  it  is  considered  as 
a  sufficient  recompense.  The  old  ones  are 
shot  with  heavy  arrows  headed  with  cotton, 
which  knock  them  down  without  killing  them. 

The  facility  with  which  the  Parrot  is  taught 
to  speak,  and  the  great  number  of  sentences  it 
is  capable  of  repeating,  are  equally  surprising. 
But  its  agreeable  qualities  are  counterbalanced 
by  the  mischievous  inclination  it  has  to  gnaw 
whatever  it  can  reach. 

The  food  commonly  given  to  these  birds 
consists  of  hemp  seed,  nuts,  fruits  of  every 
kind,  and  bread  soaked  in  wine ;  they  would 


THE    PARROT. 


95 


prefer  meat,  but  that  kind  of  aliment  has  been 
found  to  make  them  dull  and  heavy,  and  to 
cause  their  feathers  to  drop  off  after  some 
time.  It  has  been  observed,  that  they  keep 
their  food  in  a  kind  of  pouch,  from  which  they 
afterwards  throw  it  up  in  the  same  manner  as 
ruminating  animals. 


THE    MACAW. 

IN  this  genus  are  found  the  gorgeous  Ma- 
caws, the  largest  of  the  parrot  kind,  which,  for 
splendour  of  plumage,  may  claim  precedence 
of  nearly  all  the  feathered  tribe.  One  of  the 
finest  of  the  group  is  the  Blue  and  Yellow  Ma- 
caw :  the  upper  parts  of  its  body  are  of  a  most 
exquisite  glossy  and  sparkling  azure ;  the  un- 
der parts  are  of  a  rich  and  vivid  yellow ;  the 
cheeks  are  marked  with  three  lines  of  small 
black  feathers,  on  a  white  ground,  and  tinted 
with  flesh  colour;  the  throat  is  ornamented 
with  a  fine  stripe,  or  collar,  of  a  greenish 
black ;  and  the  feathers  on  the  head  are  of  a 
green  hue,  partaking,  in  a  considerable  degree, 
of  yellow.  The  Great  Green  Macaw,  and  the 
Deep  Blue  Macaw,  are  scarcely  less  beautiful ; 
and  even  some  of  the  Common  Parrots,  al- 


THE   MACAW.  99 

though  inferior  to  the  magnificent  Macaws  in 
size,  are  certainly  not  so  in  splendour  of 
plumage. 

Some  very  beautiful  specimens  of  the  blue 
and  yellow  Macaw  are  to  be  seen  in  the  Phila- 
delphia Museum. 


THE    HOOPOE. 

THE  length  of  this  bird  is  twelve  inches,  and 
the  breadth  nineteen.  The  bill  is  above  two 
inches  long,  black,  slender,  and  somewhat 
curved ;  the  tongue  very  short  and  triangular ; 
the  eyes  are  hazel ;  the  head  is  ornamented 
with  a  crest,  consisting  of  a  double  row  of  fea- 
thers, of  a  pale  orange  colour,  tipped  with 
black,  the  highest  about  two  inches  in  length ; 
this,  which  reaches  from  the  bill  to  the  top  of 
the  neck,  the  animal  can  raise  or  let  fall  at 
pleasure ;  the  neck  is  of  a  pale  reddish  brown  ; 
the  under  part  of  the  body  is  white,  and,  in  the 
young  ones,  marked  with  dusky  lines,  pointing 
downwards ;  the  back,  scapular,  and  wings,  are 
crossed  with  broad  bars  of  black  and  white ; 
the  lesser  coverts  of  the  wings,  light  brown : 
the  tail  consists  of  ten  feathers,  each  marked 
with  white,  which,  when  closed,  assume  the 
form  of  a  crescent,  the  horns  pointing  down- 
wards :  the  legs  are  short  and  black. 

(100) 


(101) 


(104) 


THE    BIRD    OP    PARADISE. 

THE  name  of  this  beautiful  creature,  we  may 
fairly  suppose,  was  given  to  him  on  account  of 
his  being  generally  seen  on  the  wing,  and  flying 
in  the  tropic  zone  at  a  small  distance  from  the 
land.  Its  appearance,  being  most  welcome  to 
the  tired  sailor  and  longing  passenger,  gene- 
rally causes  much  happiness  by  its  foretelling 
the  vicinity  of  terra  firrna.  The  head  is  small, 
but  adorned  with  colours  which  can  vie  with 
the  brightest  hues  of  the  peacock's  embellish- 
ments ;  the  neck  is  of  a  fawn  tint,  and  the  body 
very  small,  but  covered  with  long  feathers  of  a 
browner  hue,  tinged  with  gold ;  two  feathers 
issue  from  the  rump,  and  constitute  the  tail. 
These  volatiles,  whose  beauty  exceeds  that  of 
all  others,  are  natives  of  the  Molucca  Islands, 
and  are  frequently  seen  in  large  flocks  among 
the  delightful  and  spicy  woods  of  that  country. 

(105) 


106 


THE   BIRD    OF   PARADISE. 


The  Greater  Bird  of  Paradise,  of  which  there 
are  two  varieties,  breeds  in  New  Guinea,  and 
lives  there  during  the  wet  monsoon,  but  during 
the  dry  monsoon  it  inhabits  the  islands  of  Ar- 
rou,  about  a  hundred  and  forty  miles  eastward. 
They  migrate  in  flocks  of  thirty  or  forty,  and 
have  a  leader  which  the  Indians  call  the  King. 
He  is  described  as  being  black,  with  red  spots, 
and  as  soaring  far  above  the  flock,  which  never 
quit  him,  but  always  settle  where  he  does. 


(108) 


THE   TOUCAN. 

THIS  curious  bird  is  almost  twenty  inches  in 
length ;  the  bill  is  six  inches  long,  and  near  two 
inches  thick  at  the  base,  being  of  a  yellowish 
green  colour,  reddish  at  the  tip.  The  nostrils 
are  at  the  base  of  the  bill.  The  principal  up- 
per parts  of  the  body,  and  the  breast  and  neck, 
are  of  a  glossy  black,  with  a  tinge  of  green ; 
the  lower  part  of  the  back,  upper  part  of  the 
tail,  and  small  feathers  of  the  wings,  are  the 
same,  with  a  cast  of  ash  colour ;  the  breast  is 
of  a  fine  orange.  The  under  part  of  the  body, 
the  sides,  thighs,  and  short  feathers  of  the  tail, 
are  a  bright  red ;  the  remainder  of  the  tail  is 
of  a  greenish  black,  tipped  with  red.  The  legs 
and  claws  are  black.  This  bird  is  easily  tamed, 
and  will  become  very  familiar,  and  eat  almost 
any  thing  offered  to  it ;  in  general  it  feeds  on 
fruits.  In  its  wild  state  it  is  a  noisy  bird,  and 
is  perpetually  moving  from  place  to  place,  in 

(109) 


110  THE    TOUCAN. 

quest  of  food,  going  northward  or  southward, 
as  the  fruits  ripen.  It  is  very  fond  of  grapes. 

The  Toucan  builds  its  nest  in  the  holes  of 
trees,  that  are  either  formed  by  itself,  or  that 
from  accident  it  meets  with ;  and  no  bird  better 
secures  its  young  from  external  injury.  It  has 
not  only  birds,  men,  and  serpents,  to  guard 
against,  but  a  numerous  train  of  monkeys,  still 
more  prying,  mischievous,  and  hungry,  than  all 
the  rest.  The  Toucan,  however,  sits  in  its  hole, 
defending  the  entrance  with  its  great  beak ;  and 
if  the  monkey  venture  to  offer  a  visit  of  curi- 
osity, the  Toucan  gives  him  such  a  welcome, 
that  he  is  soon  glad  to  make  his  escape. 

This  bird  is  a  native  of  Guiana  and  Brazil, 
and  is  said  to  be  in  great  request  in  South 
America,  both  from  the  delicacy  of  its  flesh, 
and  on  account  of  the  beauty  of  its  plumage, 
particularly  the  feathers  of  the  breast.  The 
skin  of  this  part,  the  Indians  pluck  off,  and, 
when  dry,  glue  to  their  cheeks, — and  this  they 
consider  as  an  irresistible  addition  to  their 
beauty. 


THE    TOUCAN.  Ill 

These  birds,  when  in  flocks,  on  retiring  to 
rest,  generally  appoint  one  to  watch  during  the 
night.  While  they  are  asleep,  he  sits  perched 
at  the  top  of  a  tree,  above  them,  and  makes 
a  continual  noise,  resembling  ill-articulated 
sounds,  —  moving  also  his  head,  during  the 
whole  time,  to  the  right  and  left.  For  this  rea- 
son, the  South  Americans  give  to  the  Toucan 
the  name  of  Preacher  Toucan. 

The  cut  below  gives  an  idea  of  the  odd  po- 
sitions the  Toucan  assumes  when  asleep. 


THE    GREAT    AUK. 

THIS  bird  is  of  the  size  of  a  goose ;  its  bill 
is  black,  and  covered  at  the  base  with  short 
velvet-like  feathers.  The  upper  parts  of  the 
plumage  are  black,  and  the  lower  parts  wrhite, 
with  a  spot  of  white  between  the  bill  and  the 
eyes,  and  an  oblong  stripe  of  the  same  on  the 
wings,  which  are  too  short  for  flight.  It  is  a 
very  bad  walker,  but  swims  and  dives  well.  It 
is,  however,  observed  by  seamen,  that  it  is 
never  seen  out  of  soundings,  so  that  its  ap- 
pearance serves  as  an  infallible  direction  to 
land.  It  is  frequently  seen  on  the  coasts  of 
Norway,  Greenland,  Newfoundland,  &c. 

There  is  another  bird  of  this  description, 
called  the  Penguin,  of  which  there  are  several 
varieties,  which  seems  to  hold  the  same  place 
in  the  southern  parts  of  the  world,  that  the 
Auks  do  in  the  northern ;  being  only  found  in 
the  temperate  and  frigid  zones  of  the  southern 

(112) 


(113) 


THE    GREAT    AUK.  115 

hemisphere.  It  resembles  the  former  in  almost 
all  its  habits ;  walking  erect,  and  being  very 
stupid :  it  also  resembles  it  in  colour,  shortness 
of  wings,  rapidity  of  swimming,  mode  of  feed- 
ing, and  of  making  its  nest.  These  birds  hatch 
their  young  in  an  erect  position,  —  and  cackle 
like  geese,  but  in  a  hoarser  tone.  The  most 
remarkable  kind  is  the  Crested  Penguin,  which 
inhabits  several  of  the  South  Sea  islands,  and 
which  is  sometimes  called  the  Hopping  Pen- 
guin, or  Jumping  Jack,  from  the  circumstance 
of  its  leaping  quite  out  of  the  water,  some- 
times to  the  height  of  three  or  four  feet,  when 
it  meets  an  obstacle  in  its  course. 


THE    SWAN. 

So  much  difference  is  there  between  this  bird 
when  on  land  and  in  the  water,  that  it  is  hardly 
to  be  supposed  the  same,  —  for  in  the  latter,  no 
bird  can  possibly  exceed  it  for  beauty  and  ma- 
jestic appearance.  When  it  ascends  from  its 
favourite  element,  its  motions  are  awkward, 
and  its  neck  is  stretched  forward  with  an  air 
of  stupidity ;  it  has,  indeed,  the  appearance  of 
being  only  a  larger  sort  of  goose ;  but  when 
seen  smoothly  gliding  along  the  water,  display- 
ing a  thousand  graceful  attitudes,  and  moving 
at  pleasure  without  the  smallest  apparent  effort, 
there  is  not  a  more  beautiful  figure  in  all  na- 
ture. In  its  form,  we  find  no  broken  or  harsh 
lines;  in  its  motions,  nothing  constrained  or 
abrupt;  but  the  roundest  contours,  and  the 
easiest  transitions ;  the  eye  wanders  over  the 
whole  with  unalloyed  pleasure,  and  with  each 
change  of  position  every  part  assumes  a  new 


(117) 


THE   SWAN.  119 

grace.    It  will  swim  faster  than  a  man  can 
walk. 

This  bird  has  long  been  rendered  domestic ; 
and  it  is  now  a  doubt  whether  there  be  any  of 
the  tame  kind  in  a  state  of  nature.  The  colour 
of  the  tame  Swan  is  entirely  white,  and  it 
generally  weighs  full  twenty  pounds.  Under 
the  feathers  is  a  very  thick  soft  down,  which  is 
made  an  article  of  commerce,  for  purposes  of 
both  use  and  ornament.  The  windpipe  sinks 
down  into  the  lungs  in  the  ordinary  manner; 
and  it  is  the  most  silent  of  all  the  feathered 
tribes ;  it  can  do  nothing  more  than  hiss,  which 
it  does  on  receiving  any  provocation.  In  these 
respects  it  is  very  different  from  the  wild  or 
whistling  Swan. 


GUINEA,    OR    SWAN    GOOSE. 

OP  the  Goose  tribes  we  shall  select,  for  de- 
scription, only  the  Barnacle  Goose,  and  the 
Guinea,  or  Swan  Goose.  Various  fabulous  ac- 
counts are  given  of  the  Barnacle  Goose.  Some 
authors  have  asserted,  that  the  birds  are  pro- 
duced from  shells  which  grow  on  the  bottoms 
of  ships  that  have  been  long  at  sea,  and  on 
wood  that  has  remained  for  a  considerable  time 
in  the  water :  others  have  stated,  very  gravely, 
that  the  Barnacle  Goose  grew  on  trees ;  that 
the  fruit  fell  into  the  water,  when  ripe,  and  be- 
came living  birds.  Barnacle  Geese  are  found 
in  the  temperate  regions  in  hard  winters ;  but 
they  depart,  with  numbers  of  other  water-fowl, 
at  the  approach  of  spring,  to  breed  in  more 
northern  latitudes. 

The  Guinea,  or  Swan  Goose,  is  remarkable 
for  the  proud  and  erect  carriage  of  its  body. 
It  has  a  knob  of  considerable  size  on  the  base 

(120) 


(121) 


GUINEA,    OR   SWAN   GOOSE.  123 

of  its  upper  mandible,  and,  generally  speaking, 
a  loose  bare  pouch  under  its  throat.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  the  Swan  Geese  were  originally 
brought  from  Guinea :  they  are  now  scattered 
over  various  parts  of  the  world,  and  kept,  by 
the  curious,  with  other  domestic  water-fowl, 
which  they  very  much  resemble  in  their  habits. 
The  plumage  of  the  Swan  Goose  varies,  like 
that  of  all  other  tame  fowls ;  but  the  general 
colour  of  the  feathers  is  brownish,  with  light 
edges  of  a  fainter  hue  on  the  under  parts  than 
on  the  back  and  wings. 


Barnacle  Goose. 


THE    CROWNED    CRANE. 

AMONG  the  various  species  of  Cranes,  the 
Crowned  Crane,  which  is  about  the  size  of  the 
Common  Crane,  is  conspicuous :  its  head  is  or- 
namented with  a  fine  crest,  composed  of  a  sort 
of  feathers,  each  of  which  is  barbed,  or  bris- 
tled, in  a  singular  manner,  throughout  its  whole 
extent.  The  plumage  of  this  Crane  is  of  a 
dark  greenish  grey.  It  is  a  native  of  Africa, 
and  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands.  Cranes  are 
migratory;  and  in  winter,  quit  the  northern 
parts  of  the  world  for  more  southern  and 
warmer  countries.  They  are  very  easily  tamed, 
and  have  been  known  to  attain  a  great  age  in 
a  domesticated  state.  A  singular  instance  of 
the  attachment  of  a  Brown  Crane  to  its  com- 
panion, has  been  recorded  by  the  talented  Mrs. 
Bowdich.  One  of  a  pair,  which  were  kept  by 
a  gentleman  in  England,  having  died,  the  other 
was,  apparently,  so  affected  by  the  loss  of  its 
fellow-prisoner,  that  but  little  hope  was  enter- 

(124) 


(125) 


THE    CROWNED    CRANE.  127 

tained  of  its  surviving.  At  length,  and  as  a 
forlorn  hope,  a  large  looking-glass  was  placed 
in  the  aviary :  the  bird  no  sooner  beheld  the 
reflection  of  his  own  image,  than  —  probably 
conceiving  it  to  be  his  companion,  —  he 
smoothed  his  ruffled  plumes,  assumed  an  air 
of  joy,  regained  his  strength,  and  lived  some 
years  after,  perfectly  contented,  and  passing 
much  of  his  time  before  the  glass.  Bartram 
gives  a  singular  account  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  Savannah  Cranes  make  their  nests. 
They  collect  a  quantity  of  dry  grass  on  a  little 
hillock,  which  is  nearly  as  high  as  their  bodies ; 
and  in  incubating,  they  stand  with  one  leg  on 
each  side  of  the  hillock,  so  that  the  breast  only 
touches  the  eggs. 


THE    BITTERN. 

THE  Bittern  is  stouter  than  the  Common 
Heron,  but  not  quite  so  large  as  that  bird :  the 
greater  part  of  its  plumage  is  marked  with  a 
multitude  of  small  streaks  and  specks  of  black, 
on  a  rust-coloured  ground.  The  beak  is  very 
strong  at  the  base,  and  tapers  gradually  to  a 
very  sharp  point ;  the  mandibles  open  behind 
the  eyes ;  the  top  of  the  head  is  covered  with 
a  kind  of  crest  of  long  feathers,  which  the  bird 
can  raise  at  will ;  the  legs  are  of  a  palish  green 
colour ;  the  claws  are  long  and  sharp,  and  the 
middle  one  serrated.  Bitterns,  in  the  manner 
of  taking  their  food,  and  in  their  general  habits, 
very  much  resemble  the  Common  Heron ;  but 
they  are  by  no  means  deficient  in  courage. 
When  attacked  by  a  bird  of  prey,  the  Bittern 
bravely  defends  itself,  and  frequently  repulses 
its  assailant ;  and  if  wounded,  so  as  to  be  in- 
capable of  flying,  it  will  not  scruple  to  attack 

(128) 


(129) 


THE    BITTERN. 


131 


the  sportsman,  and  often  inflicts  rather  severe 
wounds  with  its  keen  and  powerful  bill. 

The  Bittern  usually  constructs  its  nest  of 
rushes  and  withered  water-plants,  among  the 
sedges  which  clothe  the  banks  of  pools.  It  is 
said,  that  the  hen  feeds  the  young  ones  for 
three  days  in  the  nest,  and  then  leads  them 
forth  in  quest  of  food.  The  Bittern  is  remark- 
able for  uttering  a  very  peculiar,  coarse,  hollow 
note,  at  certain  times,  which  may  be  heard  at 
a  great  distance. 


THE    HERON. 

THE  Common  Heron  measures  about  three 
feet  in  length,  and  rarely  weighs  more  than  as 
many  pounds.  Although  rapacious  iu  the  ex- 
treme, it  is  cowardly  in  its  disposition :  it  will 
fly  from  the  Sparrow-Hawk ;  and,  in  those  days 
when  falconry  was  one  of  the  principal  diver- 
sions of  the  great  in  England,  the  Heron  was 
ranked  among  the  royal  game :  a  penalty  of 
twenty  shillings  (an  important  fine  in  those 
times)  was  attached  to  the  offence  of  destroy- 
ing its  eggs.  For  hours  together  this  bird  will 
stand  motionless  in  the  water,  watching  its 
prey,  and  appearing  more  like  the  stump  of  a 
tree  than  a  living  creature.  It  will  traverse  im- 
mense distances  in  quest  of  waters  in  which  its 
food  abounds,  and  soars  so  high  in  its  flights  as 
scarcely  to  be  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  Its 
plumage  is  principally  white,  black,  grey,  and 
ashy.  The  nests  of  these  birds  are  often  built 
on  the  tops  of  high  trees. 

(132) 


(133) 


(136) 


THE    ADJUTANT. 

THIS  bird  is  of  the  Heron  tribe,  and,  accord- 
ing to  the  Linnsean  system,  belongs  to  the  order 
of  Waders.  In  its  appearance  there  is  some- 
thing singular.  Under  the  chin  is  a  kind  of 
purse  or  bag,  which  seems  adapted  to  receive 
the  water  that  they  swallow  with  their  food. 
This  connects  it,  in  some  degree,  with  the  peli- 
can. There  is  neither  hair,  feather,  nor  down, 
on  the  head,  which  looks  as  if  it  were  made  of 
\vood,  -—  and  this  oddity  is  heightened  by  the 
eye  seeming  to  be  set  in  it,  as  if  withput  lids 
or  any  cartilaginous  appendages.  The  beak  is 
equally  anomalous ;  it  is  composed  of  two  long 
sticks,  having  the  appearance  of  wood,  with 
which  the  bird  makes  a  loud  chattering  noise, 
when  cleaning  them.  The  covert  of  the  wings 
and  back  is  black,  with  a  bluish  tint ;  the  under 
part  of  the  body  is  whitish ;  the  legs  and  thighs 
are  long,  unfeathered,  and  of  a  greyish  hue ; 
the  neck  also  is  devoid  of  feathers. 

(137) 


THE    SPOONBILL. 

OF  the  Spoonbill,  which  has  sometimes  erro- 
neously been  called  the  Shoveller  (the  real  Sho- 
veller being  a  bird  of  the  duck  tribe),  there  are 
three  species.  The  first  of  these  is  the  Roseate 
Spoonbill,  which  has  beautiful  red  plumage, 
with  a  collar  of  black  at  the  lower  part  of  the 
neck.  The  second  is  called  the  Dwarf  Spoon- 
bill, and  is  about  the  size  of  a  sparrow.  Its 
body  is  brown  above,  and  white  beneath.  The 
most  cpmmon  species,  however,  is  that  which 
bears  the  name  of  the  White  Spoonbill,  from 
its  plumage,  except  in  some  rare  instances,  be- 
ing entirely  white.  This  bird  is  about  the  size 
of  a  heron,  but  somewhat  shorter  in  the  neck 
and  legs.  The  bill  is  more  than  half  a  foot  in 
length,  and  has  the  shape  of  a  spoon.  Their 
food  is  fish,  which  they  often  take  from  other 
birds,  in  the  manner  of  the  bald  eagle ;  also 
mussels  and  other  shell  fish,  —  and  they  will 
also  destroy  frogs  and  snakes. 

(138) 


(142) 


THE    RUFF. 

THE  Ruff  is  about  a  foot  in  length,  with  a 
bill  of  about  an  inch.  The  face  is  covered  with 
yellow  pimples ;  and  the  back  part  of  the  head 
and  neck  are  furnished  with  long  feathers, 
standing  out  somewhat  like  the  ruff  worn  by 
our  ancestors;  a  few  of  these  feathers  stand 
up  over  each  eye,  and  appear  not  unlike  ears. 
The  colours  of  the  Ruffs  are  in  no  two  birds 
alike :  in  general  they  are  brownish,  and  barred 
with  black ;  though  some  have  been  seen  that 
were  altogether  white.  The  female,  which  is 
called  the  Reeve,  is  smaller  than  the  male,  of 
a  brown  colour,  and  destitute  of  the  ruff  on  the 
neck.  The  Ruffs  are  much  more  numerous 
than  the  Reeves,  and  they  have  many  severe 
contentions  for  their  mates.  The  male  chooses 
a  stand  on  some  dry  bank,  near  a  splash  of 
water,  round  which  he  runs  so  often  as  to  make 
a  bare  circular  path:  the  moment  a  female 
comes  in  sight,  all  the  males  within  a  certain 

(143) 


144  THE    RUFF. 

distance  commence  a  general  battle,  placing 
their  bills  to  the  ground,  and  spreading  their 
ruff;  and  this  opportunity  is  seized  by  the 
fowlers,  who,  in  the  confusion,  catch  them,  by 
means  of  nets,  in  great  number ;  yet  even  in 
captivity,  their  animosity  still  continues :  when 
kept  in  a  room,  each  bird  takes  its  stand,  as  in 
the  open  air,  and  if  another  intrudes  on  this 
chosen  domain,  a  conflict  ensues.  If  the  pan 
from  which  they  feed  be  not  large  enough  to 
allow  of  their  not  touching  each  other,  they 
instantly  commence  a  contest. 


